Wine with your Cheerios, sir?

This article in today’s New York Times is a hoot. It’s about a guy called Gary Vaynerchuk, who has apparently become a sensation among wine people by way of YouTube videos. Suffice it to say that he’s not some pudgy old guy in a rumpled suit ruminating about Port vintages. (He does talk about Port, though—Episode 717.)

His Episode 734 pairs wines with breakfast cereals. (Von Kesselstatt Spatlese Scharzhofberger Riesling is “hedonistic” with Cap’n Crunch, but Cap’n flakes can be sharp, so be sure not to cut the roof of your mouth, because this wine is very acidic and it will sting. Landmark Overlook Chardonnay is “pretty darn good,” nay, “shocking...perfect” with Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Clicquot Demi Sec, though, is a real loser with Lucky Charms.) He neglected to taste anything with Wheaties, “Breakfast of Champions,” and my morning favorite. (Hot tip: vomitaceous with warm Budweiser replacing cold milk in the bowl.)

One of his older videos, mentioned in the article, is with a “game” Jancis Robinson, who would probably be my favorite wine critic if I read enough wine criticism to have one. At one point they have a quick back-and-forth about the problems of wine experts tasting what they expect to taste, which I thought was actually pretty profound.

Vaynerchuk apparently rails regularly against “the oak monster” which has had its way with so many American Chardonnays. So despite appearances, he’s obviously a man of profound good taste.

If you watch an episode or two, you’ll see he’s inevitable if nothing else. (I happen to think he is something else.)

And, oh, the spit bucket.